Publication Date: September 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Inc.
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Horror
Pages: Paperback, 416pp
ISBN-13: 9781402260469
ISBN: 1402260466
(Received for an honest review from Sourcebooks)
Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound
Elisabeth Naughton on the WEB: website, blog, facebook, twitter
Excerpt from Tempted
Synopsis:
DEMETRIUS - He's the hulking, brooding warrior even his fellow Guardians avoid. Too dark. Too damaged. And given his heritage, he knows it's best to keep everyone at arm's length.
Isadora is missing. The words pound through his head like a frantic drumbeat. For her own protection, Demetrius did all he could to avoid the fragile princess, his soul mate. And now she's gone - kidnapped. To get her back, he'll have to go to the black place in his soul he's always shunned.
As daemons ravage the human realm and his loyalty to the Guardians is put to the ultimate test. Demetrius realizes that Isadora is stronger than anyone had thought. And finally letting her into his heart may be the only way to save them both.
Thoughts:
Greek mythology with a paranormal twist! Elisabeth Naughton's latest edition to the Eternal Guardian series, Tempted is jam packed with action, romance and the struggle of good vs. evil. Fans of the series will be blown away by this gritty, emotional story that shows Naughton's strength in character and world building. New readers to the Eternal Guardian's series will find a series that teases the mind as well as entertains. Naughton's take on the Greeks is not to be missed!
Princess Isadora has been kidnapped! The Eternal Guardians, seven warriors descended from the original Greek gods, are tasked with finding her and getting her back to Argolea. Demetrius, one of the Guardians is beside himself when he learns that Isadora has once again disappeared. He has spent many years denying his attraction to the Princess in order to save her from his dark and dangerous side, but now she's gone and he has to find her. Demetrius and Isadora find themselves in the middle of struggle that threatens their world. Demetrius has many secrets that could change everything. Their attraction to each other is unmistakable, hot and full of passion, but is it real or just another plot by Atatlanta to take over the human realm and damn the Arogleans forever?
There is so much to say about this book, that I hardly know where to begin. Elisabeth Naughton has created a series with a basis in Greek mythology, blended effortlessly with the paranormal. In a time when most paranormal romance writers are focused on vampires and werewolves, Naughton has given readers supernatural characters that go far beyond the normal paranormal scope. The Eternal Guardians are descended from the seven original Greek gods, each having their own special abilities and their own struggles. I loved the fact that Naughton drew on the Greek myths many of us grew up reading about and expanded and twisted them just enough to build an incredible world of her own. One of the things I find immensely satisfying about books of this nature is the complete blank canvas a writer has to work with. Naughton's world could have taken on any shape or character, and the one she choose is amazing!
I admit that I have not read the first two books in the series, Marked or Entwined. A problem I plan to rectify in the near future. I thought that would probably be a big disadvantage going into reading Tempted because in a series of this nature there is so much back story that is necessary to build this world in the mind of the reader. I was pleasantly surprised that after the first few chapters I had the gist of what had gone on before and why certain things were important. This book can easily be read as a stand alone but I think readers would probably benefit from reading them in order to build the suspense and their understanding of Argolea and it's inhabitants.
From the git go, the characters in Tempted really stood out to me. They are interesting and different. Their motivations and agendas are unexpected and full of potential. I could see so many different directions that the author could have taken this even from the first few pages of the book. One of the things that really stands out in this book, is the overall growth and changes in the hero and heroine. Demetrius starts out as a very dark and brooding character. He's basically a jerk with a chip on his shoulder. But as the book continues readers will see why D gives off that impression, his reasons for distancing himself from the other Guardians and Isadora. And how he comes to gradually understand himself more and let down those walls he uses to protect himself and the others. Isadora has a different arch. She comes across in the beginning as a pawn. Just another piece to the puzzle. She's a weak player and doesn't seem to have any concept of her own abilities. But as the book goes on she very slowly begins to find herself and the inner strength she needs to do what she has to do. Looking back after I had finished the book I also saw growth in the secondary characters as well. Naughton has a plan with this book, it was tightly plotted and very well written.
This book isn't for the faint of heart for a lot of reasons. Naughton's ability to write a good fight or battle scene is excellent. She doesn't leave a lot to the imagination and the reader gets a powerful dose of it. Her characters aren't pansies, nor do they hold back in their actions or language. The passion is hot and undeniably satisfying. Readers who are expecting a tame book about the Greeks are in for a surprise with this one. I absolutely loved it! One of my favorite books of the year hands down. I recommend it to paranormal fans, readers who are interested in the Greeks and those who love a sexy, hot love story.
Tempted is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
No comments:
Post a Comment